Grit-distributing device



Dec. 9, 1930. WALLACE 1,784,323

GRIT DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1930 I I I I II; G2 6 s i \F /g Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY WALLACE OF LONDCN, ENGLAND enrr-nrs'rnrnurine DEVICE.

Application filed June 6, 1930, Serial No. 459,495, and inGreat Britain August 19, 1 929.

This invention relates to a device for distributing grit or the like in front of the road wheels of vehicles to overcome the tendency of the wheels to slip on wet or greasy sur- 5 faces, when, for example, the brakes are suddenly applied. The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of such device which will be reliable in operation, compact and capable of being readily mounted on or detached from the vehicle.

According to this invention the device comprises a container adapted to be mounted on the vehicle adjacent to one of the road wheels and having a partition which is inclined towards the wheel, so that an upper compartment for grit is provided separate from a lower compartment which contains means for actuating a shutter or the like to control an outlet port for the grit.

Preferably the shutter and its actuating means are carried on the lower surface of the partition so that they are normally totally enclosed but capable of being assembled on the partition and detached or inserted as a unit therewith.

One construction of a device according to the present invention is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation with an operating circuit diagram, and

Figure 2 illustrates a modified arrangement of the operating circuit shown in Figure 1. i I

In the construction illustrated the device comprises a container A having transverse flanges A adapted to slide in guides A secured beneath the running board B of the vehicle immediately in front of one of the road wheels, indicated at B The container A has a removable partition C which, when in position inclines towards the wheel B and divides the container into an upper grit containing compartment and 4 a lower compartment for the operating mechanism. Provided in the lower end of the partition 0 is a transverse outlet port-C which normally registers with an opening C in the base of the container. The'port C can be controlled by mechanism carried on the lower face of the partition comprising a shutter Dmounted to slide in guides D and connected by a rod D to the core E of a solenoid E. A controlspring E in the sole noid tends to maintain the core E in the outward position. A power circuit connected to the terminals E of thesolenoid includes a battery F, which maybe the lighting battery of the vehicle, and a control switch F ar ranged near the drivers seat. 7

7 When it is desired torelease grit from the container the control switch F is closed, and the solenoid E being thus'energized from the battery F, the core E draws the shutter D clear of the outletport-C thus compressing the spring E and allowing grit to escape through the opening C When the control switch F is opened and the solenoid thereby deenergized the spring E pushes the core outwards so that the shutter returns to its normal position in which it closes the outlet'port C V In cases where a relatively long operating circuit is necessary, the voltage drop may be 'reduced by providing instead of the switch- F a relay G (Figure 2) disposed adjacent to the battery F and capable of being energized from a subsidiary battery G when acontrol switch G near the drivers seat is closed. Further, instead of the control spring E being disposed within the solenoid it may be arranged to act, for example, between the shutter or the rod 1) and a relatively fixed partof the device.

, It will be understood that while it is preferred to operate the device by electric means, the shutter or its equivalent within the lower compartment may,for example, be actuated by means of a flexible power transmission device or by lever and link mechanism. I

a A device constructed in accordance With the inventionwhile providing a compact unit which can be readily attached or removed from the vehicle has the additional advantag es that the operating mechanism for the shutter is protected from grit carried in the container itself and is'also readily removable with the partition when it is desired to examine or repair the moving parts.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device for distributing grit before the road wheels of, vehicles including in combi: nation a container adapted to be mounted in front of and adjacent to one of the wheels, a

controlling the outlet port carried on the lowerface of'the partition so as to form a detachablev unit therewith including a shutter removable partition in the container'incli'ned toward the'wheel so as to divide the'container into an uppergritcompartment andal lower i compartment, an outletportifor grit'in the a r lower end of the partition registering with an opening inithe base of'the container, and

'meansforcontrollingthe outlet port carried on the lower face' of the partition and comprising a shutter and a solenoid operatively connected thereto. 7 a V 2. A" device for distributing grit before 'theroad wheelsof vehicles including in combination a container adapted to be mounted in front of and adjacent to one of the wheels, a partition in the container inclined toward the wheel so as to divide the containerinto an upper grit compartment and a lower com-.

partment, anoutlet port for grit in thelower end ofthepartitionregistering with an open-,

ing in the base of the container, and means for I controlling the outlet port carried on the lower face of-the partition so vas to form are? movable unittherewith. I I

" 43. A f device fordistributing 'r grit before 1 the road wheelsof vehicles including incombinationa container adapted to'be mounted in front of and ad acent to one of the wheels,

and a switch remotev a partition in the container inclined toward 7 a v the wheel-so as to divide the containerinto an uppergrit containing compartment and a lower compartment, anoutlet port for grit in the lower end of the upper compartment, I means dispos d injthe lower compartment for controlling the outlet port comprising a shut" 1 ter; and fa solenoid operatively connected thereto, an electric circuit connected to the? solenoid and including a relay and a switch remote from the container which when closed energizesftherelay to close the circuit and thereby energizes the solenoid.

4." A deviceifor distributingv grit before the 1 road wheels of vehicles including in combination a container adapted to be mounted in frontof and adjacent'to one ofthe wheels, a

gpartition in the container inclined toward the wheel so-as to divide the container into an upper grit compartment and a lower compartment, an outletport for grit in the lower s end of the partition'reg istering with an opening in the base ofthe container, means for 

